FILM REVIEW: The Hangover Part 2

3/5

“I think we’ve done it again,” exclaims a shaven-headed Alan (played by Zach Galifianakis). The Wolfpack are back, and in many ways the team behind the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time HAVE done it again.

The excellent cast all return, the story is pretty much identical to the first and Part 2 delivers more of the same. The title could easily have been ‘The Hangover Again – but this time in Thailand’.

But if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. This is exactly the film that fans of the first will be wanting and expecting – this is a five out of five movie for fans who have worn out their copy of the first and have been itching for more.

This time we see the cast awake in Bangkok, hungover and clueless after what was meant to be a quiet night two days before Doug’s (played by Justin Bartha) wedding. They have to work out where they are, what they did and find new Wolfpack addition Teddy (played by Mason Lee) the younger brother of Doug’s bride to be, who has been lost in the furore.

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The returning cast bring another solid set of performances but it is the stand-out performances of Zach Galifianakis as Alan and Ken Jeong as Mr Chow that provide the majority of big laughs.

Knowing exactly what the audience wants, this time Alan’s whimsical insanity has been ramped up a notch, whilst Mr Chow has been brought more into the fold. It is this duo that are central to the entire story – without them the other more reserved characters would not be experiencing another ‘hangover’.

Just like the first, the situation is masterfully set up for a roller-coaster ride of massive gags throughout, and one that allows for none of the humour to get overly tired or predictable. And there are plenty of big laughs from Alan’s speeches, to the revelations of Doug’s sexual exploits - the jokes are bigger, grosser and come thick and fast.

But whilst the film is big on laughs The Hangover 2 does not have a comic energy of its own instead relying entirely on turning the traits of the characters up to 11 and retreading the original’s footsteps.

The film’s climax is a little disappointing and the massively hyped cameo appearance is a bit of a let-down.

If you are looking for a new cinematic experience this summer avoid The Hangover 2, but if you are looking for lots of laughs from a carbon-copy of the first film this is entirely the right film for you.

FILM REVIEW: The Hangover Part 2

3/5

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